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Support Policy Solutions
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For fifty-plus years, Riverkeeper has been the Hudson River Estuary’s chief law enforcer when it comes to safeguarding our water and waterways. We work to strengthen the laws and regulations that impact New York’s water resources. We collaborate with coalitions and partners statewide on critical issues involving water pollution, clean energy, watershed preservation and more.
Since the mid-1960s, Riverkeeper has spearheaded policy initiatives that protect wetlands and habitat, improve nuclear oversight, increase and secure green funding, and encourage smart energy use and production in New York State. Strong environmental policy is one of the best tools we have, we work hard to garner support for legislation created to protect our Hudson River, its tributaries, our watershed, wetlands and surrounding communities.
Below you will find information, the current status of legislation and ways to contact your representatives on policies Riverkeeper has determined important to change and legislation we oppose and support.
Want to know the basics of New York State’s legislative process? Learn more here. Please see this guide for the budget process due each year on April 1st.
Find your member of the Assembly here.
Find your State Senator here.
Contact Governor Andrew M. Cuomo here.
| Bill Information & Summary | Riverkeeper position | Status | Information | Take Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York State 2020 budget | Finalized and passed both Assembly and Senate on 4/3/2020. See Riverkeeper blog post providing an overview of the environmental investments in the budget. | Read Riverkeeper Budget Memorandum Read Riverkeeper Environmental Conservation SFY-21 Budget Testimony | ||
| Clean Water Protection | ||||
| Wetlands Protection Act A.3658/S.7366(Englebright/Harckham) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee and on on Assembly third reading (floor calendar). 1/16/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | Send a message to your representative! |
| Protect NY's Streams A.8349/S.5612A (Ryan/Harckham) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in the Senate and passed in the Assembly! 7/22/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | Send a message to Governor Cuomo to sign this bill into law! |
| Oyster Shell Tax Credit A.0655/S.4718 (Rosenthal L/Metzger) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Budget and Revenue Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee. 1/16/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Private Well Water Testing A.1103a/S.1854a (Jaffee/Hoylman) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee. 1/16/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Adirondack Road Salt S.8663/A8767A (Kennedy/Jones) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in the Senate and Assembly. 8/20/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Chemicals and Pesticides | ||||
| Coal Tar Sealant Ban A.1304/S.6308 (Rosenthal L./Metzger) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in the Senate and on Assembly third reading (floor calendar). 7/23/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum USGS Fact Sheet on Coal Tar | |
| Birds and Bees Protection Act/Neonicotinoid pesticide moratorium S5816/A7639 (Hoylman/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee. 1/16/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum NY Neonic Fact Sheet Recent Neonic Research | |
| Prohibition on sale of glyphosate (Roundup) S.225/A.6899 (Hoylman/Steck) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. 1/16/2020. | Riverkeeper Memorandum forthcoming. | |
| Ban of use of trichloroethylene (TCE) in certain products S.6829/A.8829 (Kaminsky/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in the Senate and Assembly. 7/22/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum um | |
| Oil & Gas Waste Loophole Closure S.3392/A.2655 (May/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Signed by Governor into law. 8/3/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | Send a message to your representative! |
| Environmental Law and Litigation | ||||
| Citizen Suits for Environmental Conservation Laws S.5013/A.1424 (Parker/Simon) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee and on Assembly third reading (floor calendar). 3/6/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Fixing SEQRA Standing A.07971/S.7548 (O'Donnell/Kavanagh) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee. (1/16/2020) and on Assembly third reading (floor calendar). 3/6/20. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum SEQRA Standing Timeline and Summary of Cases SEQRA Standing Reform FAQ | |
| Increase Illegal Dumping Penalties S.6758/A.8672 (Kaminsky/Stern) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed in the Senate and Assembly. 8/20/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Plastics, Recycling, and Promoting a Circular Economy | ||||
| Single Use Hotel Bottle Ban S5282A/A7662A (Kaminsky/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Passed the Senate and in Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. 8/20/2020. | Riverkeeper Memorandum forthcoming. | |
| Straws By Request S.1477/A.90 (Hoylman/Rosenthal L.) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee and Assembly Codes Committee. 1/16/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Expansion of Bottle Deposit Law (Bottle Bill) A.5028a/S.2129a (Englebright/Kaminsky) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee and Assembly Ways and Means Committee. 1/16/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Requires single-use plastic water bottles be made with 100% recycled material by 2025 to grow the recycling market. A.9121 (Fahy) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee and no Senate same-as. 1/22/2020. | Riverkeeper Memorandum forthcoming. | |
| Requires single-use beverage containers be manufactured with 75% recycled material. A.8664 (Fahy) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee and no Senate same-as. 1/8/2020. | Riverkeeper Memorandum forthcoming. | |
| Enacts the “Environmentally Conscious Purchasing Act” to prohibit state agencies and political subdivisions from purchasing single-use plastic products; defines terms; provides exceptions for medical and sanitation reasons. A.8772/S.6749 (Fahy/Parker) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Finance Committee and Assembly Governmental Operations. 1/8/2020. | Riverkeeper Memorandum forthcoming. | |
| Regulates the sale of plastic trash bags and requires plastic trash bags be made of 30% post-consumer materials. A.8878/S.6814 (Fahy/Metzger) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. 1/8/2020. | Riverkeeper Memorandum forthcoming. | |
| Establishes a “right to refill” by requiring food service establishments permit the use of reusable/refillable beverage containers, such as coffee and water, and food containers, provided by customers. S.8613/A.8722 (Metzger/Fahy) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Health Committee and Assembly Health Committee. 1/8/2020. | Riverkeeper Memorandum forthcoming. | |
| Prohibition of the use of plastic beverage container packaging | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee and Assembly Rules Committee. 7/17/20. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Energy | ||||
| Ban of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing S.6906/A.9678 (Metzger/Englebright) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently on third reading (floor calendar) in Senate and in Assembly. 7/22/2020. A version of this bill was completed in the budget bill which included a ban on high volume hydraulic fracturing. But the budget left out a complete ban of gelled propane hydraulic fracturing. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| New York State Decommissioning Oversight Board S.8158/A.10236 (Harckham/Galef) | Riverkeeper Supports | Currently on third reading (floor calendar) in Senate and Assembly. 7/22/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
| Legislation Riverkeeper Opposes | ||||
| Uber Trout Stocking S.5021/A.7135 (Metzger/Woerner) | Riverkeeper Opposes | Currently in Senate Environmental Conservation Committee and Assembly Environmental Conservation Committee. 1/16/2020. | Read Riverkeeper Policy Memorandum | |
